Swiss Ambassador: In Ukraine, we learned to distinguish weapons by sound
10.07.2026 21:25 Ukrinform
The Ambassador of Switzerland, Felix Baumann, stated that the war has taught foreign diplomats in Ukraine something that the civilian population in any country should never have to learn – to distinguish different types of weaponry by their sound.
He said this at a reception on the occasion of the Swiss National Day, as reported by a Ukrinform correspondent.
Baumann noted that he accepted the appointment as ambassador to a country at war with a profound sense of responsibility.
“In a week, my tenure as Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will conclude. My first working day was June 6, 2023 – the very day Russia destroyed the Kakhovka Dam. At that moment, it was one of the most horrific attacks of the entire war. However, over the 1131 days I have spent in Ukraine, many more tragedies have occurred. Civilian infrastructure and residential buildings are constant targets of attacks. Civilians, children, humanitarian workers, and rescuers are shelled almost daily in various parts of the country,” the diplomat shared.
According to him, what the citizens of Ukraine and foreigners are experiencing cannot be fully grasped from outside the country. Therefore, in addition to the traditional task of a diplomat – explaining his country’s position in the host country – an important part of his work was to inform Switzerland about what Ukraine is going through, as well as its impressive ability to constantly adapt and implement new solutions.
Baumann noted that despite an extremely demanding schedule, he used every opportunity to better understand Ukraine and its people. He stated that foreign diplomats are in a privileged position because they can regularly leave the country, and their family members are not forced to sacrifice their lives defending their homeland.
“And yet, we also share some of the consequences of this war, including sleepless nights when Kyiv is under attack. We have learned what no civilian population should ever have to learn – to distinguish different types of weaponry by their sound,” the Swiss ambassador remarked.
He added that he would take with him “the extraordinary willpower of the Ukrainian people, which does not fade despite fatigue and exhaustion.”
As Ukrinform reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga, together with Felix Baumann, opened a commemorative plaque on a building in the center of Kyiv where the Swiss consulate was located in 1903.
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Shelling Switzerland Ukraine Weapons Diplomats